After several days of moving rocks, cutting and staining cedar timbers and deck boards, attaching same, and running low-voltage wiring, the front steps are finally finished, well in time for the upcoming visit of Mizuho’s mother.  This photo shows how the deck boards are placed over pressure-treated 2×6 boards that are themselves placed over a bed of sand and gravel.

The stairs are made of two 6″x8″ timbers, which were also used as the first step of each of the two decks.

My mother gave us this gazebo as a house-warming present when she visited a few weeks ago.  We and Hime are really enjoying it here in the sunny Okanagan and will continue doing so for some time.  While I hope to start on the posts and beams for the porch roof next week, it will be a while before there is a roof.